Donnie Nietes. Photo by Roy Luarca/INQUIRER
CEBU CITY—It’s time for Donnie Nietes to move up in weight and bring his act elsewhere.
Nietes dominated Mexican Francisco Rodriguez in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 31 at Waterfront Hotel and Casino here Saturday night, asserting his mastery of the World Boxing Organization junior flyweight division and enhancing his legacy as the longest reigning Filipino world champion.
READ: Nietes keeps WBO title, dominates Rodriguez
During the postfight press conference, also held at the ballroom where Nietes silenced the Mexican on scores of 115-113, 119-109 and 118-110, ALA Promotions president-CEO Michael Aldeguer bared a plan for the pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, to campaign in the highly competitive flyweight division.
Aldequer, however, remains in a quandary whether to pit the 33-year-old Nietes against the 112-pound champions outright or to test his mettle first with a nontitle fight at a catchweight of 110 lb.
READ: Nietes stakes WBO crown vs ‘cocky’ Mexican tonight
“Definitely we’re looking at the bigger weight next year, ” Aldeguer said. “We’re gonna re-assess this year, if he can be ready to go up in weight next year.”
Nietes said he wants to defend his 108 lb title one more time and, if possible, to do it in his hometown. Aldeguer is expected to grant Nietes’ request.
“We’re looking at November in Bacolod,” said Aldeguer, noting that the last time Nietes fought in Bacolod was in 2011.
“They [Negrenses] want to watch him again. He’s a legend right now, and it will be something like a homecoming for him. It has always been the plan for the last few years.”
But an interesting offer to fight former light flyweight champion Giovani Segura in the United States might get in the way.
“Now it may happen,” said Aldeguer. “We’re looking at October, most probably second week.
ALA Promotions is now licensed to stage fight cards in the US, with the initial foray set at StubHub in Carson, California.
For 2016, four cards have been calendared, including a major promotion that would likely feature Nietes.
As a flyweight, Nietes will have to contend with the likes of World Boxing Council king Roman Gonzalez (43-0 with 37 knockouts), World Boxing Association and WBO titlist Juan Francisco Estrada (32-2, 23 KOs) or International Boxing Federation champion Amnat Ruenroeng (16-0, 5 KOs).
International stints are also up for Mark Magsayo (11-0, 9 KOs) following his fifth-round stoppage of Mexican Rafael Reyes in their battle for the IBF Youth featherweight title.
In Saturday’s special bout, Kevin Jake Cataraja made an auspicious professional debut, knocking out Indonesian Ardi Tefa in the sixth and final round of their featherweight encounter.
Cataraja, a 14-time gold medalist in regional and national competitions, took the air out of Tefa (6-5) with a left to the body.
The fight card, graced by WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, was a joint undertaking of ALA Promotions, headed by Michael Aldeguer, and ABS-CBN Sports.